The Veterans Watchmaker Initiative (VWI) has a mission to provide veterans, primarily those who are disabled, with the skill set necessary to repair and restore timepieces professionally and, at the same time, recover their independence and a sense of purpose after so selflessly serving our country.

VWI trains veterans in the art of horology, or watchmaking, as it is known to layperson.

Our program focuses on teaching our war veterans, especially disabled veterans, the art of watch repair. We offer training in a 6-week Watch Technician Program & 19-month Full Watchmaker Training Program.  The watchmaker program not only prepares our veteran graduates to make a watch from a number of parts but also gives them the additional title of micro-machinist; after training, any part they may need to complete a watch, they will be able to create that part from scratch, which is the hallmark of a watchmaker.

We hope to increase and replenish the number of people employed in this profession since there is a severe shortage of watchmakers. This shortage results from the resurgence of the mechanical watch, which is causing record-breaking sales and an aging watchmaker population. Once thought of as a dying craft with the advent of the mass-produced quartz watch in 1969, the watchmaking field now suffers from low awareness.

By starting this initiative, we hope to repay the sacrifice and service of our veterans by teaching them a skilled profession (using state-of-the-art equipment) that is in high demand and well-paying.  All our programs are free of charge to the veteran.